Australia Has My Heart

This is one of the main reasons that I wanted to fly half way around the world to Australia.  The koala bears were adorable and the kangaroos funny to watch but the little penguins of Phillip Island stole my heart. Located about 1 1/2 hr southeast of Melbourne, Victoria, they are the world's smallest penguin species. Every night at sunset (while the birds of prey are on their roosts) hundreds of little penguins storm the beach after a day of feeding in the Indian Ocean. Then they waddle their full bellies to their burrows in the sand dunes to feed their families. It will make you laugh and cry at the same time.  Today photographs are discouraged because the flash frightens the penguins. But here is a classic image from the 1960's.

They still march right past the visitors in the park and it would be possible to reach out and touch the little penguins but people respectfully let them pass by on the trail. The boardwalks that are now in place allow visitors to walk along beside the penguins. Phillip Island Nature Parks manages the daily penguin parade. All revenue generated from the Penguin Parade re-invested into research,  environment and education projects to protect the little penguins. I strongly recommend making the trek to visit these sweet creatures. Their strength, determination and adaptation (they used to have wings) is inspiring. 

And Then There Was William Kentridge

Randy will tell you that the only reason I encouraged him to sit on an airplane for 18 hours was so that I could see the William Kentridge - Five Themes exhibit at Australian Center For Moving Image (ACMI).  The truth is that I didn't even know the exhibit was in Melbourne, Australia or that it was the final stop for the exhibition.  I have been stalking William Kentridge's work for about 3 years, primarily via the very comprehensive  MOMA website.  I am not ashamed to admit that I almost fell down when we walked by ACMI and the giant billboard was staring right at us promoting the exhibition.  The theatrics that ensued where gloriously executed. My sweet Randy smiled and said that if I wanted to we could stay at the exhibit all day.  And we did.

 This is a drawing created on paper with proportions calculated so that the image is "readable" by viewing the reflection in the cylinder.  It is really beautiful to watch while the surface is spinning.

If you are intrigued PBS did a very comprehensive documentary on Mr. Kentridge that is still available to be viewed on their site.